Philosophy
PHIL 102 (3 Credits) Fall, Spring
Introduction to Philosophy (3+0) h
Survey of philosophers and problems in the Western tradition beginning with the ancient Greeks (Plato, Aristotle) and continuing with medieval (e.g., Anselm, Augustine, Aquinas) and modern European thinkers (e.g., Descartes, Hume, Kant, Nietzsche). Themes and topics may vary.
PHIL 202 (3 Credits) Spring
Introduction to Eastern Philosophy (3+0) h
Basic assumptions, problems and systems of the major philosophical traditions of the Far East. (Prerequisite: PHIL 102 or permission of the instructor.)
PHIL 204 (3 Credits) Fall, Spring
Introduction to Logic (3+0) h
Principles of deductive and inductive logic and application of these principles to critical thinking in science and other fields; brief introduction to symbolic logic and its application. (Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.)
PHIL 275 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Yup'ik Practices in Spirituality and Philosophy (3+0) h
(Cross-listed with ANS 275)
Exploration of the processes in Yup'ik natural religion and the underlying philosophy that is the basis for Yup'ik existence in the spiritual realm. Wholeness of Yup'ik existence as it integrates into the western religion and philosophy.
PHIL 321 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Aesthetics (3+0) h
The nature of aesthetic experience in poetry, music, painting, sculpture and architecture; studies in relation to artistic production and the role of art in society. (Prerequisite: PHIL 102.)
PHIL 322X (3 Credits) Fall, Spring
Ethics (3+0) h
"Ethic," from the Greek "ethos" meaning character, custom, usage, is the study of value distinctions. Examination of the nature of value judgments -- their historical origins and philosophical assumptions -- and exploration of the application of value distinctions to contemporary social, religious, and scientific/technical issues. (Prerequisite: Junior standing. Recommended but not required: Completion of two courses in the Perspectives on the Human.)
PHIL 341O (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Epistemology (3+0) h
The nature of knowledge, truth and certainty. (Prerequisite: PHIL 102. Next offered: 2000-01.)
PHIL 342 (3 Credits) Alternate Spring
Metaphysics (3+0) h
Theories of reality and their relationship to science, philosophy and religion. (Prerequisite: PHIL 102. Next offered: 2000-01.)
PHIL 351 (3 Credits) Fall
History of Ancient Greek Philosophy (3+0) h
Review of the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle; minor attention to Presocratics. (Prerequisite: PHIL 102 or its equivalent.)
PHIL 352 (3 Credits) Spring
History of Modern Philosophy: Descartes to Kant (3+0) h
Review of continental rationalist and British empiricist thought, 17th - 19th centuries. (Prerequisite: PHIL 102 or its equivalent. PHIL 351 strongly recommended.)
PHIL 361 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Philosophy in Literature (3+0) h
Examination of philosophical issues in literary works. Topics include the nature of free will, the effects of choice in building a character, the desirable (and undesirable) ways of confronting morality, and the nature of evil. Topics and readings vary.
PHIL 362 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Feminist Philosophy (3+0) h
(Cross-listed with WMS 362)
Examination of contemporary feminist philosophical positions. Emphasis on feminist ethics, social and political philosophy, and epistemology.
PHIL 375 (3 Credits) Alternate Spring
Native American Religion and Philosophy (3+0) h
(Cross-listed with ANS 375)
Philosophical aspects of Native American world views. Systems of belief and knowledge, explanations of natural phenomena, relations of humans to natural environment through ritual and ceremonial observances. (Recommended: PHIL 102. Next offered: 2001-02.)
PHIL 381 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Topics in Logics (3+0) h
An advanced explanation of problems, philosophies and approaches in logics, including classical, symbolic and comparative logics. (Prerequisites: Completion of PHIL 204 or its equivalent and permission of the instructor.)
PHIL 402 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Biomedical Ethics (3+0) h
Issues in biomedical ethics. Topics include allocation of scarce medical resources, euthanasia, responsibility for medical decision-making, and the permissibility of developing new techniques such as using fetal tissue. Topics will vary. (Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing, or permission of the instructor. Recommended: a course in philosophy, science or nursing.)
PHIL 411W,O (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Classical Political Theory (3+0) h
(Cross-listed with PS 411W,O)
Political ideas from ancient Greece, Rome, and the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Theories of Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Augustine, and Aquinas. (Prerequisites: PS 101, PHIL 102 or consent of instructor. Next offered: 2001 - 02.)
PHIL 412W,O (3 Credits) Alternate Spring
Modern Political Theory (3+0) s
(Cross-listed with PS 412W,O)
Political ideas from the Renaissance to the modern world. Theories of Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Burke, Marx, and Lenin. (Prerequisites: PS 101, PHIL 102 or consent of instructor. Next offered: 2001 - 02.)
PHIL 436 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Ethical theory (3+0) h
Major ethical theories. Includes virtue theory, social contract theory, deontology and utilitarianism with major arguments for and against. (Prerequisites: Junior standing or consent of instructor.)
PHIL 471 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Contemporary Philosophical Problems (3+0) h
Ideological issues facing the modern world. (Prerequisite: Nine credits philosophy or permission of the instructor. Next offered: 2000-01.)
PHIL 481 (3 Credits) Alternate Spring
Philosophy of Science (3+0) h
Comparison and discussion of various contemporary methodological positions. (Prerequisite: Junior standing.)
PHIL 482 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Comparative Philosophy (3+0) h
Review of non-western philosophical thought, e.g., African, Jewish, Latin American, Oriental, and others. (Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor. Next offered: 2001 - 02.)
PHIL 483 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Philosophy of Social Science (3+0) h
Comparison and analysis of various contemporary methodological positions in the social sciences. (Prerequisite: Junior standing.)
PHIL 485 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Topics in Comparative Philosophies (3+0) h
Explores, on an advanced level, modern and traditional philosophical questions, problems, and approaches to and within different cultural settings. Student should have at least an acquaintance with a second language and some multicultural experience. (Prerequisite: Nine credits in philosophy.)
PHIL 488 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
B.A. Thesis Research (1+2+var) h
Independent research on a topic preparatory to writing the thesis in philosophy. (Prerequisite: Completion of all major requirements in philosophy.)
PHIL 499W (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
B.A. Thesis in Philosophy (1+2+var) h
Writing the senior thesis in philosophy. (Prerequisite: PHIL 488.)